Hairbrush with retractable style-lift



Dec. 5, 1967 R. J. OSEARO ET AL 3,355,757

HAIRBRUSH WITH RETRACTABLE STYLE-LIFT Filed Oct. 15, 196

I N V E N TORS Roy J. 0 1954 90 CARMELLA a 55420 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,355,757 HAIRBRUSH'WITH RETRACTABLE STYLE-LIFT Roy J. OSearo and Carmella OSearo, both of 1218 George St. Extension, Sharon, Pa. 16146 Filed Oct. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 496,541 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-105) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Hairbrushes have been provided with small rod-like projections several inches long known as style-lifts for use in the styling of hair. However, such brushes have had disadvantages which have made them particularly objectionable to professional hair stylists. For example, some of the brushes have fixed style-lifts which must serve as brush handles when the style-lifts are not being used, but style-lifts do not make good handles because they are so small in diameter that they are difiicult to grip. Furthermore, in order to use such a style-lift, the user must turn the brush around and then grip its body and bristles, which also make a very unsuitable and uncomfortable handle. In other cases, the style-lift has been folded into the body of the brush when not in use, or has been a separate element merely stored inside the brush, from which it must be removed completely before it can be used. In such cases, both hands are required in order to prepare the style-lift for use.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a hair brush which can be used in the normal way, which is provided with a style-lift that can be moved out of the Way when not in use, which does not require the body of the brush nor its bristles to be gripped in the hand while the style-lift is being used, which permits the style-lift to be moved into and out of operating position by a thumb or finger of the same hand that holds the brush, and which has a durable construction and pleasing appearance.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of our brush;

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the style-lift extended.

Referring to the drawings, a more or less conventional hairbrush has the usual body 1 with a conventional relatively large brush handle 2 projecting from one end. Usually the body and handle will be integral and may be molded from a suitable plastic or shaped from wood. The front face of the brush body is provided with the usual bristles 3. However, in accordance with this invention, the back of the brush body is provided with a narrow slot 4 that extends nearly the entire length of the body. The inner end of the slot adjacent the handle is closed, but the opposite end is open.

Slidably mounted in this slot is a short slide 5 that frictionally engages the side walls of the slot. The slide is retained in the slot by making the bottoms of both wider than the open side of the slot. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the opposite side walls of the slot may converge towards its open side, with the slide triangular in cross section to fit the slot. The slide extends through the open side of the slot and then spreads laterally to form an actuating button 6 that overlies the back of the 3,355,757 Patented Dec. 5, 1967 brush body. This button may be knurled or provided with serrations to roughen it so that it can be moved along the slot by means of a finger or thumb pressed against it. The normal or retracted position of the slide is at the inner end of the slot near the handle, as shown in FIG. 1.

Also disposed in slot 4 is a style-lift, which is a long cylindrical pin 7 having a pointed, but not sharp, outer end. The inner end of this pin is securely connected to the adjoining end of the slide, with which it may be integral if desired. When the slide is fully retracted in the slot, the pointed outer end of the style-lift is located at the open end of the slot. It may be disposed flush with the corresponding end of the brush body or be spaced inwardly from that end a very short distance. In any event, it is highly desirable that the point of the style-lift not project from the end of the brush body when fully retracted. The diameter of the style-lift preferably is such that it engages the three sides of the slot, thereby preventing the style-lift from moving laterally in the slot when used in a partially projected position.

To prevent slide 5 from accidentally being pushed entirely out of the slot when it is moved ahead to extend the style-lift for use, means is provided at the open end of the slot to stop the slide. A simple way of doing this is to lay a metal or plastic strip 8 across the open side of the slot at its outer end and attach the ends of the strip to the brush body by means of screws 9. When the slide button is pushed toward the outer end of the slot, it will strike and be arrested by the strip, as shown in FIG. 3.

It will be seen that with the style-lift retracted into the brush body, as shown in FIG. 1, the brush appears and is used as a conventional hairbrush. It is held by its handle. Whenever the hair stylist wishes to make use of the style-lift, all that he or she has to do is to push the slide button forward along the slot by means of the thumb or forefinger of the hand that grips the brush handle. It is not necessary to use both hands for this operation, so the other hand remains free for the greater speed and efliciency required of a professional hair stylist. Likewise, the style-lift can be retracted into the brush at any time by simply pulling back on the slide button in the same way. The brush is not turned end for end when shifting from brush to style-lift and vice versa. Whether the stylelift is in use or not, the brush is firmly gripped by its large handle for easy manipulation. At no time does the brush lose its effectiveness by compelling the stylist to turn the brush around or to grip the bristles in order to make use of the style-lift. The style-lift can be extended from the brush any desired distance and will be held there by the snug fit of the slide in the brush slot.

In case it is desired that the style-lift be located close to one side of the brush body instead of at its center, that can be done. However, to make the brush satisfactory for both right and left hand people, it then should be provided with a second style-lift near the other side of the brush body. Then, either style-lift can be used, as desired.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood, that within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

A hairbrush comprising a body having a front and a back, bristles projecting from the front of the body, the back of the body being provided with a longitudinal slot open at one end of the body, a handle rigidly joined to the opposite end of the body, the slot having a flat bottom wall and side walls converging therefrom toward the back of the brush body, an elongated slide triangular in cross section slidably mounted in the slot in frictional engagement with the three walls thereof, the slide extending out of the open side of the slot and then laterally in opposite directions to form an actuating button outside of the slot overlying the back of the brush body, a cy1indrical rod-like style-lift disposed in the slot and having an inner end joined to said slide and having an outer end located at said one end of the brush body when the slide is at the inner end of the slot, the style-lift engaging the three walls of the slot, said slide being movable by its button toward the open end of the slot to project the style-lift from said body, a separate stop strip extending across said slot adjacent its open end, and means fastening the ends of the stop strip to the back of the brush to form a stop in the path of said button for limiting movement of the slide toward the open end of the slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1889 Ryan 132-422 9/1910 Pfieghardt 15111 4/1914 Taber 13285 9/1933 Ingwersen et a1 15-184 3/1949 Jacobowitz et al. 132122 X 2/1953 Uyl 15106 4/1953 Servilla 132122 X 4/1953 Raphael 132-122 1/1965 Larson et al 1321 10 X FOREIGN PATENTS 5/ 1956 Canada.

10/ 1951 Germany.

l/l893 Great Britain.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

